Empire, Michigan Public Records

Felony cases, major civil cases over $25,000, and appeals from District Court are heard in the 13th Circuit Court for Grand Traverse County (which also covers Leelanau County), located at 328 Washington Street, Traverse City, MI 49684, phone (231) 922-4720. Probate matters, including estates, guardianships, conservatorships, mental health cases, and adoptions, are handled by the Leelanau County Probate Court, located at 8527 E Government Center Drive, Suite 201, Suttons Bay, MI 49682, phone (231) 256-8236. Michigan court records can be searched online through the statewide Michigan Court Case Search at https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search, which provides access to case numbers, parties, filing dates, case type, and disposition for most civil and criminal cases, though some sensitive records (such as juvenile, mental health, and certain family cases) are restricted. Certified copies of court documents can be requested from the clerk of the respective court; fees typically include $10 for certification plus copy fees of $1 per page for District Court, and $10 certification plus copying costs at Circuit Court. Traffic ticket payments and case information for Empire can be accessed through the 86th District Court.

Property information can be searched online through the Leelanau County Property Search at https://www.leelanau.gov/equalization.asp, where users can search by owner name, parcel number, or street address to find assessed values, taxable values, property characteristics (square footage, year built, lot size), tax history, and legal descriptions. The Leelanau County Register of Deeds, located at 8527 E Government Center Drive, Suite 107, Suttons Bay, MI 49682, phone (231) 256-8244, website https://www.leelanau.gov/registerofdeeds.asp, records and maintains all land transaction documents including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgage documents, mortgage discharges, liens, easements, plats, and surveys. The Register of Deeds offers online document search and viewing at https://www.leelanau.gov/rod_search.asp, where historical and current recorded documents can be accessed free of charge by searching by grantor/grantee name, document type, date range, or legal description. Copies of recorded documents can be obtained for $1 per page, and certified copies are $5 for the first page plus $1 for each additional page. The county also provides a GIS mapping system at https://www.leelanau.gov/gis.asp with interactive parcel maps showing property boundaries, zoning, environmental features, and overlay districts. Recording fees for new documents are $30 for the first page and $3 for each additional page. Property transfers and sales are subject to Michigan's Real Estate Transfer Tax.

The Empire Area Museum Complex, operated by volunteers, also contributes to cultural tourism. Agriculture, particularly cherry orchards, vineyards, and farm markets, remains an important part of the local economy, with several farms in the surrounding Empire Township selling produce, wine, and value-added products. The median household income for Empire and the surrounding township area is estimated at approximately $50,000-$60,000, though this varies significantly with seasonal employment patterns; Leelanau County overall has a median household income of approximately $63,000. Real estate and vacation rental property management represent a growing economic sector, as Empire's lakefront location attracts second-home buyers and seasonal residents. The village has seen modest growth in recent years with investments in downtown streetscape improvements and preservation of historic structures. Winter months see significantly reduced economic activity, and many businesses close or reduce hours from November through April. Empire's economy is closely tied to the broader Leelanau Peninsula tourism industry and the influence of nearby Traverse City, approximately 25 miles to the southeast, which serves as the regional commercial and employment hub. The village's remote location and small year-round population limit large-scale commercial development.

Empire does not have its own municipal police department; law enforcement services are provided by the Leelanau County Sheriff's Office, located at 8527 E Government Center Drive, Suttons Bay, MI 49682, phone (231) 256-8800, website https://www.leelanau.gov/sheriff.asp. The Sheriff's Office has jurisdiction over all unincorporated areas and most municipalities in Leelanau County, including Empire, and handles patrol, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, and emergency response. To request police reports or incident records from the Sheriff's Office, residents may submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in writing or in person at the Sheriff's Office during business hours; Michigan's FOIA law is codified at MCL 15.231 et seq. and requires agencies to respond within five business days. Reports typically include incident number, date, location, involved parties (subject to redaction for privacy), and narrative summaries. The Leelanau County Jail, operated by the Sheriff's Office at the same address, houses inmates for the county. Arrest and booking records can be searched through the Leelanau County Sheriff's Office by calling (231) 256-8800 or visiting in person; online inmate rosters may be available but are not consistently updated on the county website. Booking information typically includes the inmate's name, booking date, charges filed, bond amount, and court dates. Michigan State Police also maintain jurisdiction on state highways and can be reached at the Traverse City Post, 2407 North U.S. 31 South, Traverse City, MI 49686, phone (231) 935-0090. For emergency law enforcement assistance in Empire, residents should dial 911, which connects to Leelanau County Central Dispatch.

Records can be ordered online at https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs through VitalChek (with additional processing fees), by mail, or in person at the Lansing office. Processing time is typically 4-6 weeks by mail, faster online. Michigan law restricts access to birth records for 100 years and death records for 50 years; immediate family members, legal representatives, and individuals with a tangible interest may request certified copies with valid photo ID. The Leelanau County Clerk's Office, located at 8527 E Government Center Drive, Suite 108, Suttons Bay, MI 49682, phone (231) 256-9824, website https://www.leelanau.gov/clerk.asp, issues marriage licenses for couples planning to marry in Leelanau County. Marriage license applications require both parties to appear in person with valid photo ID and social security numbers; the fee is $30, and there is no waiting period or blood test required. Certified copies of marriage certificates recorded in Leelanau County cost $13 for the first copy and $4 for additional copies. Divorce records are maintained by the 13th Circuit Court in Traverse City, not the County Clerk, and must be requested from the Circuit Court Clerk at (231) 922-4720. Historical vital records dating back to the 1860s may be available through county records or the Michigan State Archives for genealogical research.

Leelanau County does not require a general business license but does regulate specific business types such as food service and home-based businesses through the Leelanau County Building and Planning Department, located at 8527 E Government Center Drive, Suttons Bay, MI 49682, phone (231) 256-9812. Fictitious business name registrations (Doing Business As, or DBA) are filed with the Leelanau County Clerk at 8527 E Government Center Drive, Suite 108, Suttons Bay, MI 49682, phone (231) 256-9824; the filing fee is $10, and registrations must be renewed every five years. Michigan business entity searches for corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and other registered business entities can be conducted through the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) at https://cofs.lara.state.mi.us/SearchApi/Search/Search, where users can search by business name, registered agent, or entity ID number to find status, formation date, registered office address, and authorized shares. New business entities are registered through LARA's Corporations Division online at https://www.michigan.gov/lara. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) lien searches for secured transactions and personal property liens are also conducted through LARA at https://www.michigan.gov/ucc. Commercial property tax assessments for Empire businesses can be searched through the Leelanau County Equalization Department's online property database at https://www.leelanau.gov/equalization.asp by entering the business address or parcel number. Sales tax permits are issued by the Michigan Department of Treasury and can be applied for at https://www.michigan.gov/taxes.

Voters in Empire, Michigan are served by the Leelanau County Clerk's Office, located at 8527 E Government Center Drive, Suite 108, Suttons Bay, MI 49682, phone (231) 256-9824, website https://www.leelanau.gov/clerk.asp. The County Clerk administers all federal, state, county, and local elections for Empire and serves as the official election authority. Michigan residents can register to vote online at https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us through the Michigan Voter Information Center, operated by the Michigan Secretary of State; voters may register up to and including Election Day with proof of residency, though registration at least 15 days before Election Day is recommended to ensure processing. To register, Michigan residents must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old by Election Day, and residents of Michigan for at least 30 days. Valid ID or the last four digits of a Social Security number are required for online registration. Empire is part of Empire Township for most local government purposes; the Empire Township Board holds elections for township supervisor, clerk, treasurer, and trustees, with township elections held in even-numbered years concurrent with the August primary and November general elections. The Village of Empire, as a municipal entity, holds elections for village president and council members; the next regular Empire village election is scheduled for 2025 for village offices. Empire voters also participate in Leelanau County elections for county commissioners (Empire is in District 8), sheriff, clerk, treasurer, register of deeds, and prosecuting attorney, with county offices elected in even-numbered years. To find their assigned polling place, Empire residents can use the Michigan Voter Information Center at https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us by entering their name and date of birth or address; Empire Township voters typically vote at the Empire Township Hall, 11518 W LaCore Street, Empire, MI 49630. In the November 2024 presidential election, Leelanau County reported approximately 74% voter turnout with roughly 16,200 ballots cast out of approximately 22,000 registered voters; Empire and Empire Township had similar high turnout rates. On November 3, 2026, Empire and Leelanau County voters will decide races including Michigan Governor (term expires January 2027), Michigan Secretary of State, Michigan Attorney General, U.S. House of Representatives for Michigan's 1st Congressional District, Michigan State Senate District 37, Michigan State House District 103, and various Leelanau County offices including county commissioners, sheriff (four-year term), clerk, treasurer, and prosecuting attorney. Michigan election records that are publicly accessible include voter registration lists (available for a fee for lawful purposes through the County Clerk), campaign finance reports searchable at https://miboecfr.nictusa.com/cfr/dumpall/cfrdetail/, candidate filings and ballot language available through the County Clerk, and precinct-level election results posted at https://www.leelanau.gov/clerk.asp after certification. Michigan offers no-reason absentee voting; any registered voter may request an absentee ballot online at https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us, by mail, or in person at the County Clerk's office, with applications available up to 75 days before an election and ballots mailed starting 45 days before Election Day. Absentee ballots must be received by 8:00 PM on Election Day to be counted.